Substance abuse: Alcohol

• Alcohol is a legal and socially acceptable drug
• It is however a poison
• It is addictive and can lead to ill-health and even death
• It is a depressant drug
• It slows down nervous reactions (neurotransmission) of the body
• And negatively affects a person’s judgement
• It slows down the reaction of those who drink and drive/operate machinery
• The liver processes poisons in the blood stream including alcohol
• Excessive consumption/drinking of alcohol leads to liver damage
• Liver damage is also known as liver cirrhosis
• Alcohol reduces social inhibitions
• This leads to excess risk taking behaviour
• alcoholic-a person addicted to alcohol
• Alcoholism leads to societal and family problems such as
• Failed marriages, lost employment, strained relationships
• Some cough syrups contain alcohol and have to be administered according to directions

Problems of alcohol

• It is a depressant
• Reduces self-control (social inhibitions) resulting in risky behaviour
• Can lead to antisocial behaviour e.g. immorality, prostitution,crime etc
• Strained relationships and other family and societal problems
• Liver cirrhosis
• Road and work accidents when drunk people operate machinery and drive
• Alcoholism/Addiction to alcohol

Possible/Current solutions

• Laws that make it illegal to sell to those under the age of 18
• Labels on alcohol bottles
• Educating people against the dangers of alcohol
• Roadblocks to prevent/reduces cases of drunk driving

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